Car-coupling.



UNITED STATES PATENT o FFroE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. May 15, 1906.

Application filed August 2, 1905- Serial No. 272.294-

, the vertical-plane type; and it consists of certain improvements inthe car-coupler forming the subject-matter of a prior patent, No.730,978, issued to me June 16, 1903.

In the car-coupler disclosed in said patent a so-called lock orcoupling-pin su port is' located within the draw-head and islongitudinally movable therein to and from an operative position beneaththe coupling-pin for supporting the latter in a raised or uncouplingposition relative to the knuckle, this pinsupport being spring-actuatedto automatically move to its operative position upon the raising of thecoupling-pin and being actuated to move from its said operative positionby the engagement therewith of the inner arm of the knuckle upon theclosing of the latter. In order to limit the pin-support in its movementunder the action of the spring and also retain the same in positionwithin the draw-head, a pin is passed through an elongated slot inthepin-support and supported at its opposite ends in the draw-head, thispin being removable from the draw-head through an opening in its underside. The fact of this pin being accessible at the exterior side of thedraw-head serves as a convenient means for permitting it to be withdrawnfrom connection with the pin-support whenever it is desired-for anyreason to remove the latter from its position within the draw-head; butit is objectionable in that it enables a maliciously-inclined person bywithdrawing the pin to either cause the pin-support to be moved forwardfrom its normal position under the action of its actuating-spring, andso interfere with the proper operation of the other parts of thecoupler, or else wholly remove the pin-support from the draw-head. Afurther obj ectionalso lies in the fact that the pin is liable to becomelost, either by becoming accidentally displaced from its connection withthe draw-head or else being misplaced when removed in the ordinarycourse of repairing or otherwise.

To avoid the objectionable features referred to has been one of theobjects of my present invention. To this end the invention-consists inproviding a means within the draw-head for engaging with the pin-supportto limit its movement and from which the pin-support may be disengagedor disconnected by movement in a direction other than its normal path ofmovement, such means in one form of my invention consisting of a fixedpin or stud on the draw-head projecting into an elongated slot in thepin-support, the relative dimensions of the'parts being such as topermit of the pin-support being raised upward from engagement with thestud, and so being free therefrom to be withdrawn from its positionwithin the drawhead. As a further feature of my invention, however, andas a means for preventing the pin-support from being withdrawn from thedraw-head upon the mere raising or disengaging of the same from the stoppin or stud I have provided the pin-support with means,

preferably in the form of an arm at one side thereof, that willbe'engaged by the knucklearm subsequent to the disconnection of thepin-support from the stop-pin and prevent the said pin-support frombeing withdrawn from the draw-head. I By this means the remova'lof thepin-support is made dependent upon the previous disconnection of theknuckle from the draw-head.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means forpreventing loss or disconnection of the knuckle pivot-pin from thedraw-head of the coupler in the event of its breakage. To this end theinvention consists in providing the said pivot-pin with a shoulder at apoint adjacent to its lower end and below a possible point of breakageand providing the draw-head with a shoulder or ledge for cooperationwith the said shoulder of the pivot-pin, whereby in the event ofbreakage of the latter it will be supported and prevented from droppingfrom its position in the draw-head.

Afurther object of the invention is the provision of means toprevent'bending or breaking of the coupling-pin under the thrust of theengaging knuckle-arm. To this end the invention consists in locating abearing-wall within the opening in the draw-head, in which theknuckle-arm swings in a position to engage the coupling-pin on that sidethereof opposite that which is engaged by the knuckle-arm when theseveral parts of the coup ler are in normal looking or couplingposition.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for preventingundue friction between the engaging surfaces of the coupling-pin andknuckle during the opening and closing of the latter, and therebyfacilitating their proper operations. To this end the invention consistsin providing the knuckle arm with a raised relatively narrow flange uponwhich the lower end of the pin will rest and ride during the opening andclosing movements of the knuckle. A further and important feature ofthis flange in addition to the performance of the function noted s thefact that it also serves as a means for regulating the forward movementof the pinsupport under the action of its forwardly-opcrating spring.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, Fig ure 1 is a horizontal section through a coup lerembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with thedraw-head partly broken away and in section. Fig. 3 is an enlargedperspective detail view showing the engagement of the pin-support by theinner knuckle-arm, and Fig. 4. is a sectional detail showing thecooperating shoulders of the knuckle pivot-pin and draw-head.

In the drawings the draw-head 1, the horizontally-swinging hook orknuckle 2, the ver tically-movable coupling-pin 3, and the pinsupport 4supported within suitable guides 5 5 in the shank 6 of the draw-head tobe longitudinally movable therein to and from a position beneath thecoupling-pin for support ing the same in a raised or uncouplingposition, are all substantially as found in the coupler disclosed in mysaid prior patent, No. 730,978.

In accordance with my present invention I have located a short pin orstud 9 on the lower inner wall of the draw-head in a position to projectinto an elongated slot 10 in the pin-support and operate to limit theforward movement of the latter under the action of its actuating-spring7. The space in the draw-head between the upper wall thereof and the topof this pin or stud 9 is such as to permit of the pin-support beingraised above and disengaged from said pin or stud, as shown by dottedlines in Fig. 2. so disengaged, the pin-support is free to be withdrawnfrom the draw -head after the knuckle is disconnected therefrom. Duringsuch time as the knuckle is connected with the drawhead, however, thepin-support is prevented thereby from being withdrawn or removed fromthe draw-head through the medium of an arm or part 4 projecting from thepin-support into a position to be engaged by the knuckle, as mostclearly shown in Fig. 3.

IVhen As an additional and auxiliary means for limiting the forwardmovement of the pinsupport 4 under the action of the spring 7 afterbeing released by the coupling-pin I have provided the inner arm 2 ofthe knuckle with a relatively narrow raised flange 14 on its uppersurface, which is so arranged as to present a vertical stop-wall 14 in aposition opposite the end of the pin-support, as most clearly shown inFig. 3, the said flange being of suflicient length to have a portion ofits stop-Wall 14 in a position opposite the end of the pin-support atall timesthat is, both while the parts are in their normal closedposition, as shown in the drawings, and also during the opening andclosing movements of the knuckle. important function of the said flange14 in addition to that described is that it passes beneath and supportsthe coupling-pin during the opening and closing movements of theknuckle, and so operates by reason of the small area of surfacepresented for contact with the coupling-pin to minimize the frictionbetween the engaging surfaces of said parts, which friction when theparts are more or less rusted is ordinarily very considerable.

The draw-heads of vertical-plane car-couplers are made with a centralhorizontal opening to receive and permit of movement of the inner arm ofthe pivoted knuckle, and which said opening intersects the verticalcouplingpin opening. As the said horizontal opening is of a verticaldepth equal to about one-third the entire depth of the draw-head, itresults in about one-third of the coupling-pin, at a point when it isengaged by the knucklearm, being unsupported by any direct means againstlateral thrust as produced by the engagement therewith of saidknuckle-arm. Because of the coupling-pin being thus unsupported at thecentral part thereof it often happens that it becomes broken or so bentas to render it unfit for use, and to avoid possibility of this I havelocated on the lower wall of the said horizontal opening in the drawheada raised projection 15, which is arranged to present a bearing-wall 15for engagement with the central portion of the coupling-pin at a pointopposite that which is engaged by the knuckle-arm, as shown in Fig. 1,and operate to directly support the same against bending or breakingunder any lateral thrust by the said knuckle-arm. It also happens thatthe knuckle pivotin (indicated at 16) sometimes becomes bro (en, inwhich event the lower broken end or portion of the pin drops from itsconnection with the drawhead, and in the further event of such brokenend dropping and resting upon the track it is liable to result in thederailment or other accident to the car. Therefore to guard against thepossibility of such accident I have provided a means for preventing thedropping or disconnection of any part of the pivot-pin A further and rfrom the knuckle in the event of its breakage, which means comprises anannular shoulder 18 onthe pivot-pin, formed by reducing the diameter ofthe lower end of the latter, and an annular shoulder or ledge 19 in thepivotpin opening of the draw-head for cooperation with the said shoulderof the pivotin, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4. As t e said shoulder 18of the pivot-pin is located at a point adjacent to the lower end of thepin and at a point below a possible point of breakage, it is obviousthat any possibility of the pin dropping or becoming disconnected fromthe draw-head is avoided.

Inorder that the actuating-spring 7 for the pin-support may beretainedin connection with the latter when it is inserted into or removed fromits position in the draw-head, I have located a pin 20 on the shank ofthe lock-support in a position to enter between the coils of the spring,and so hold the latter against longitudinal displacement from thepin-support.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head, a swingingknuckle, and a coupling-pin for the knuckle, of a pin-support movable toand from an operative position for supporting the said coupling-pin, andmeans for limiting the movement of the pinsupport and from which thelatter may be disengaged by movement in a direction other than itsnormal path of movement.

2. In'a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head, a swingingknuckle, and a coupling-pin for the knuckle, of a pin-support movable toand from an operative position for supporting the said coupling-pin, anda fixed pin or stud for engaging with and limiting the movementof thepin-support and from which the latter may be disengaged by movement in adirection other than its normal path of movement. 3. In a car-coupler,the combination, with a draw-head, a swinging knuckle, and acoupling-pin for the knuckle, of a spring-actuated pin-support locatedwithin the draw-head and being movable therein to and. from an operativeposition for supporting the said coupling-pin, and means for limitingthe movement of the pin-support under the ac tion of its spring and fromwhich the pin-support may be disengaged by movement in a direction otherthan its normal path of movement.

4. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head, a swingingknuckle, and a coupling-pin for the knuckle, of a pin-support locatedwithin the draw-head and being longitudinally movable therein to andfrom an operative position for supporting the said coupling-pin, and afixed pin or stud for engaging cated within the draw-head and beinglongitudinally movable therein to and from an operative position forsupporting the couplingpin, the said pin-support being provided with alongitudinal slottherein, and a fixed pin or stud projecting into thesaid slot in the pinsupport for limiting the longitudinal movement ofthe latter and from which the pinsupport may be raised from engagement,for the purpose set forth.

6. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head, a swingingknuckle, and a coupling-pin for the knuckle, of a pin-support removablylocated within the draw-head and being normally retained againstvremoval therefrom by the knuckle.

7. In a car-coupler, the combination, with 'a draw-head, a swingingknuckle, and a coupling-pin for the knuckle, of a pin-support locatedwithin :the draw-head and being movable therein toand from an operativeposition for supporting the coupling-pin, and a stop for limiting themovement of the pinsupport and from which the latter may be disconnectedby movement in a direction other than its normal path of movement, thesaid pin-support being normally retained by the knuckle against removalfrom the drawhead subsequent to its disconnection from the said stop.

8. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head, a swingingknuckle, and a coupling-pin for the knuckle, of a pin-support locatedWithin the draw-head and belng movable therein to and from an operativeposition for supportingthe cou ling-pin, means for limiting the movementof the pin-support and from which the latter may be disconnected bymovement in a direction other than its normal path of movement, andmeans carried by the pin-support for engagement with the knuckle toprevent removal of the pin-support from the draw-head.

9. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head, a swingingknuckle, and a coupling-pin for the knuckle, of a pin-support removablylocated within the draw-head, an actuating-spring for said pin-support,and means for retaining said spring in connection with the pin-support,for the purpose set forth.

10. In a car-coupler, the combination of a draw-head, a swingingknuckle, a couplingpin for the knuckle, a pin-support located within thedraw-head and being movable therein to and from an operative positionfor supporting the coupling-pin, and means for automatically moving thepin-support for- I York and State of New York, this 21st day of ward toan operative position upon the rais- July, A. D. 1905. ing of thecoupling-pin, the said knuckle hav- GEORGE W SMILLIE ing a raisedportion or flange on the upper side of its inner arm for limiting theforward movement of the said pin-support.

Signed at New York, in the county of New Witnesses:

OHAs. F. DANE, E. M. FAITH.

